The lens of your eye is made up of protein and water. As we get older, this protein content may form small lumps and cloud the lens. This is basically what a cataract is, and over time, this can have an effect on your vision.

Cataract start of a something so minute, it is hard to detect. You might not even notice its existence, except perhaps a slight blurring of vision. Sunlight or any bright light might seem to have a heavy glare. Cataracts once detected, do not immediately require surgical intervention for its removal. The doctor may suggest some enhanced aids for visual assistance. This assistance can come in the form of bifocals, a magnifying glass, or even more lighting. Cataract surgery becomes imminent when the disorder has progressed significantly and is causing serious problems with your vision.

There are many who believe that cataracts are a normal phenomenon associated with aging, but cataract surgery is very common and an otherwise simple and painless way to get back your normal vision. It is also one of the most frequently-performed eye surgeries in the United States. Over 1.5 million procedures are performed on a yearly basis. Ninety percent of the people who have undergone cataract surgery get back their vision.

Since cataracts are caused by cloudy vision, the objective of cataract surgery is to remove the cloudy lens and replace the same with an artificial lens. The artificial lens is made of silicone or plastic. These lenses are called intraocular lens or IOL. There has been significant research and developments in the field of IOL manufacture and today. Thanks to the state-of-the art IOL available, cataract surgery has become easier for the surgeon and much more convenient for the patient.

The different types of IOL available are the presbyopia correcting IOL which enables you to see things which are situated at varying distances. Another type of IOL creates a barrier for ultraviolet and blue light, which according to research, damages the retina.

During cataract surgery the natural lens of the eye can be replaced with a permanent IOL implant. The surgery involves breaking up the cloudy lens, or cataract, using ultrasound. The process is called phacoemulsification, where the cloudy lens, after being broken down, is suctioned out of the eye. In another process called phacofracture, the broke-down cloudy lens is taken out of the eye through a small ut made in the eye. At this point the new lens in placed in the eye.

If you suspect that you have symptoms that may be related to cataracts, the best thing to do is visit your eye doctor to have him take a look. A pre-surgery eye examination will decide which type of lens should be used to replace the natural lens of your eyes. The pre-surgery examination will also enable the eye doctor to assess the right power of the replacement lens which your eyes will need. In case cataract has to be removed from both the eyes, cataract surgery is done on one eye at a time. A typical cataract surgery without any untoward complication takes about 10 minutes. If you decide to do the surgery in the outpatient department, it will take longer since more time is needed for surgical preparation as well as recuperation time.